Commission directs staff to offer disputed farm parcel for bid rather than remove it from lease program

Saline County commissioners reviewed a staff report May 27 about a request from a member of the public to use one county-owned farm parcel for an alternative purpose rather than renewing it under the county's standard agricultural lease process. County staff reported the farm fund produced roughly $70,000 in revenue last year with expenditures of about $64,000; approximately $7,800 of the 2024 income came from the parcel under discussion.

Staff said several factors could offset lost revenue if the parcel were removed from the lease program: two scholarships funded from the farm fund are ending (reducing planned expenditures by about $2,000) and a skid steer previously rented by the department might be donated, which would offset additional loss. Staff also warned that farm lease bids could decrease with farm-economy changes, which would affect income across all leased parcels.

Commissioners asked questions about potential water availability, expected acreage (the parcel is roughly 78 acres), intended term lengths and whether providing a free lease might undercut private competitors. Several commissioners expressed reluctance to give the parcel away without a competitive process and emphasized the need for more details before changing policy. The commission directed staff to put the parcel out for competitive lease bidding rather than removing it from the lease program or granting a free lease; staff will return with results of the bid process.

The parcel's current lease rate is roughly $100 per acre; staff will proceed with the regular lease process and report back with bids.